v. 1 tr. & intr. increase in size or bulk or importance. 2 intr. (often foll. by on) give a fuller description or account. 3 intr. become more genial or effusive; discard one's reserve. 4 tr. set or write out in full (something condensed or abbreviated). 5 tr. & intr. spread out flat. expanded metal sheet metal slit and stretched into a mesh, used to reinforce concrete and other brittle materials. expandable adj. expander n. expansible adj. expansibility n.
[ ME f. L expandere expans- spread out (as EX-(1), pandere spread) ]